Yardbarker

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

EXPERTISE:

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, US Soccer, UFC

Packers RB Aaron Jones (calf) out vs. Vikings

Jones tweaked the calf late last week and missed all midweek practice sessions leading up to the game against Minnesota. Without Jones, Jamaal Williams led the Packers with 77 rushing yards and a score against Houston.

Juventus announce Cristiano Ronaldo has recovered from COVID-19

Ronaldo first tested positive on Oct. 13 and hasn't played for club or country since. Without the 35-year-old, Juve managed to notch only Serie A draws with Crotone and Hellas Verona.

Reports: MLB owners approve Mets sale to Steve Cohen

Previous reports valued the sale at a record $2.42 billion, surpassing the $2.15 billion that Guggenheim Baseball Management reportedly paid to acquire the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012. 

Could Andy Dalton play for Cowboys vs. Eagles?

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy isn't yet ready to rule veteran Andy Dalton out for Sunday's divisional showdown. 

Tigers hire former Astros skipper A.J. Hinch as manager

Detroit finished the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with a 23-35 record and dead last in the American League Central standings. 

Giants report no new positive COVID-19 tests; game vs. Bucs on

Neither the Giants nor Buccaneers have yet gone through bye weeks, so the NFL could've rescheduled the game for later in the fall, if necessary.

Dana White believes Khabib Nurmagomedov could unretire, return to UFC

While multiple insiders and journalists in the MMA world believe Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement is for real, UFC boss Dana White thinks differently.

Wisconsin Badgers football program has 16 active COVID-19 cases

ESPN's Tom VanHaaren reported early Thursday evening that the Wisconsin Badgers football program is up to 16 active COVID-19 cases after two additional staff members and one student-athlete tested positive.  Wisconsin has temporarily paused all football activities due to the virus outbreak.

Patriots QB Cam Newton calls Bills game a 'must-win'

Cam Newton didn't shy away from touching upon the importance of Sunday's showdown with division foes and leaders the Buffalo Bills. 

LA Galaxy fire head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy announced on Thursday that they've fired head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

Major League Soccer to use points per game for playoff seedings

As had been expected throughout October, Major League Soccer announced on Thursday that the North American top-flight is going to a points-per-game system to determine playoff places and seedings for the season.

Report: Vikings won't allow fans for Nov. 8 game against Lions

The club remains hopeful that local health and safety guidelines will allow it to welcome spectators to at least one home game before Christmas.

MAC teams must play three games to be eligible for league title

The league could potentially reschedule any postponed/canceled games despite the conference not adding bye weeks to the schedule ahead of the Dec. 18 title game.

Panthers All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey out for Falcons game

Carolina Panthers fans and certain fantasy football owners out there will have to wait at least a little longer for the return of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.

MLB slugger Yasiel Puig sued for alleged sexual battery at Lakers game in 2018

Major League Baseball outfielder and slugger Yasiel Puig is being sued by a woman for sexual battery regarding an incident that allegedly occurred at a Los Angeles Lakers game in 2018. 

NHL wants 'normal' 2021-2022 season schedule

Figuring out an upcoming season destined to be altered by the worsening coronavirus pandemic is still proving to be a challenge heading into November. 

Fans banned from Paris Masters tennis tournament due to coronavirus lockdown

Tournament organizers originally intended to welcome 1,000 spectators for each session, day and night.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declines to comment on potential Mets sale

An agreement in the team's lease allows the city to block the sale to someone convicted of a felony or linked with organized crime. While Cohen was never convicted, SAC Capital Partners, his former company, pleaded guilty in an insider trading case in 2014.

Indians shockingly place All-Star closer Brad Hand on outright waivers

Cleveland's latest decision seems to indicate the team's plan to go all-in on a rebuild that includes additional cost-cutting.

'Number of employees' concerned after White Sox hire Hall of Famer Tony La Russa as manager?

The 76-year-old hasn't managed in the big leagues since he guided the St. Louis Cardinals to the 2011 World Series title.

ACC championship game scheduled for Dec. 19

The two teams with the highest winning percentages in conference games will compete for the championship on the final Saturday before Christmas.

Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew dealing with lingering thumb injury

Minshew hasn't been all bad, according to ESPN Stats & Information, as he's responsible for the league's third-best passer rating and fourth-best completion percentage in third-down situations.

Dodgers advised to quarantine after Justin Turner COVID-19 diagnosis

MLB is investigating Turner's actions and blasted the third baseman in an official statement less than 24 hours after the Dodgers clinched the title. 

Report: Robbie Lawler off UFC 255; Mike Perry wants replacement fight

Awelterweight fight between Robbie Lawler (28-15-0, 1 no contest) and Mike Perry (14-6-0) scheduled to occur at UFC 255 on Nov. 21 is reportedly off.

WR Antonio Brown 'fantastic' in first Buccaneers workout

Veteran wide receiver Antonio Brown hasn't played in an official NFL game since September 2019, but he "won" his first appearance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers less than a week after he was initially linked with that franchise.